Remembering the Ukrainian Genocide

Recently, Ukrainians both at home and abroad marked the 70th anniversary of the 'Holodomor', the brutal famine that occurred in 1932-33 that resulted in the deaths of several million innocent Ukrainians.

There are few words I can say about this, except that that the Ukrainian community should whatever it takes to keep the memory of this event alive to our future generations. And also try to obtain wider attention towards this atrocity.

A great site that struggles to achieves these goals is the Ukrainian Genocide Famine Foundation.

I'm sorry there's nothing more I can say, my heart is too broken!

Ukrainian Catholic Programming on EWTN!

Just by chance I managed to find this thread over at the Byzantine Forum announcing that EWTN is airing specials on the Ukrainian Catholic Church.

I managed to see the program about the Catholic University in Liviv. It was truly an amazing sight to see the Church on the revival among the Ukrainian people. It also featured personal accounts of the martyrdom suffered by many Catholics under the Soviet regime. One seminarian they interviewed explained how deeply connected the Catholic Church is to the Ukrainian people, and how it suffered alongside them all those years.

Check the link for times, don't miss it!

Change of name and focus

I'm going to change the name of this forum to Kyivan Catholic, and change its focus to pertain mainly to religious issues concerning Ukrainians and preserving its Eastern Christian heritage. I'll still comment on general Ukrainian issues, but since much of my commentaries pertained to religious issues anyways, I might as well have that as my focus.

Two Ukrainians canonized by Pope!

It was announced today that Pope Benedict XVI has canonized the first saints of his pontificate, and among them are two Ukrainians. They are Josef Bilczewski who served as the Archbishop of Lviv during World War I, and Reverend Zygmunt Gorazdowski.

May the Glory of Christ Our Lord be with them!

Ukrainian nationalists clash with Communists in Kiev

I've just been reading about the clashes that took place yesterday in Kiev between Ukrainian nationalists and Communists concerning the 63rd anniversary of founding of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army(UPA). The nationalists, many of whom were members of the UNO-UNSO organization, also demand that UPA veterans receive full veteran status in Ukraine. A contingent of elderly UPA veterans were supposed to march as well, but the fear of violence from the Communists

Most sickening picture I've seen is this picture hosted by Yahoo of Communists burning the flag of the UPA. Those f**king pricks!

However there is another, more wonderful, picture of two UPA veterans who decided to attend the march, despite the risks.

This just makes my blood boil! Clearly shows how much the Communists despise the Ukrainian nation and its historical legacy.

The future of Ukraine is in Europe

That is what European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso said to the Ukrainian prime minister in a discussion concerning Ukraine's possible entry into the European Union. Ukraine has always been at the geo-political and cultural crossroads between Western Europe and the Byzantine East, and easily absorbed influences from both.

A perfect visual example of this was the strong Baroque influence that went into the building of Ukrainian churches and the painting of icons. This unique blend of Baroque and Byzantine traditions came to be known as the "Kozak"(after the famous warriors of Ukraine) or "Mazepa"(since this art form flourished under Mazepa's rule) style. This while Russia was deeply suspicious of Baroque art forms as "covert Catholicism".

So there is absolutely no question that Ukraine's glorious past has a place in Europe's heritage, and it should be no question that its hopefully bright future should have a place as well with Europe. That's not the question. The real question is to which Europe will Ukraine's future share in. The Europe which embraces its glorious heritage or the Europe which seeks to dissociate itself from it? The Europe envisioned by the E.U. represents the latter, while Ukraine should really wish to associate itself with the former.

The late Pope John Paul II was a strong advocate for the former vision of Europe. He uttered these strong words to his own nation in relation to their decision to enter "Europe". His words are as much true today as they were when he first spoke them in 1991. And they have equal relevance to the Ukrainian nation as it did for the Poles:

“Giving in to desire, to sex, to consumption: that is the Europeanism that some supporters of our entry into Europe think we should accept. But we mustn’t become part of that Europe. We were the ones who created Europe, and with much more effort than those who claim exclusive rights to Europeanism. What is their criterion? Freedom. But which freedom? The freedom to take the life of an unborn child? Brothers and sisters, I protest against this concept of Europe held by the West. And this message must be shouted loudly from this land of martyrs. Europe is waiting for redemption. The world needs a redeemed Europe.”

May Ukraine's future be with the cause of a redeemed Europe!

Why Slavs hate Benedict XVI

I recently found this hilarious cartoon at the Byzantine Catholic Forum explaining why so many Slavs hate the current pope! ROTFL!

Skeptical view of the Orange Revolution

BBC offers this interesting analysis of many of the flaws behind the so-called "Cult of People Power", basically stating that in the end nothing really changes. Not that I'm entirely cynical towards the prospects of "People Power", in fact I'm all for it. What I am against are charades that are put on in the name of empowering the people.

Hopefully within time the Ukrainians will experience a true national revolution.

Russian General reburied

Yesterday the remains of Russian General Anton Denikin were reburied in Moscow. Denikin was one of the leaders of the anti-Communist White forces during the Russian Civil War. Many are arguing that this is an attempt to heal the divisions that were created by that conflict. That may certainly be true concerning the Russian people, who have reasons to honour him as a hero; but sadly the same cannot be said concerning the Ukrainian people.

Denikin was a staunch enemy of Ukrainian nationhood, and stubbornly upheld the notion of "one, indivisible Russia". This stubborn attitude of his led him to unnecessary confrontations with the Ukrainian forces under Symon Petlura; especially since Petlura made offers for an alliance against their real common enemy the Bolsheviks. Denikin's refusal to forge alliances with Ukrainian nationalists even earned him criticism from fellow White leaders, especially Admiral Aleksandr Kolchak.

Denikin's attacks on Petlura not only served to weaken Ukrainian national forces(and nationhood as a whole) but also ironically his as well, which in the end only benefited the Bolsheviks. You could argue that Denikin was his own worst enemy.

Denikin's image among Russian may improve over time, but I remain highly skeptical of that ever happening among Ukrainians. So in many ways, the divisions of the Civil War will remain.